On Sunday, the United Nations and the United States of America denounced Saturday bomb strikes in Tashan Mararaba, Gwoza town, and Borno State, claiming at least eighteen fatalities.
Suspected female suicide bombers launched their attacks on a funeral, a hospital, and a wedding in Gwoza, a town close to the Cameroon border.
Three explosions occurred on Saturday in Gwoza, according to Nahum Daso, a spokesman for the Borno State Police Command. On Sunday In a statement on Sunday by the Presidency, President Bola Tinubu said his government would rediscover its efforts “to ensure that those who trouble the nation, dispatch precious lives, and disrupt law and order are completely removed.”
Online, Zagazola Makama, a security analyst and counter-insurgency specialist, informed us that the bomber—later identified as a young woman in her early twenties—detonated her explosive device in the heart of the gathering, wreaking havoc and ruin.
Intelligence sources informed Makama that the strike happened close to a crowded motorpark and the victims—all civilians—were returning from a wedding party. Rushing to the scene to save those hurt and get them to the Gwoza hospitals were emergency services.
The first bomb assault on Saturday marks years since Boko Haram started attacking all throughout the nation in 2009.
Among such operations were the 2010 bombing of the United Nations building and the crowded Nyanya vehicle park in Abuja in 2014. Strongly criticising the bomb strikes, President Tinubu said they were “desperate acts of terror and a clear manifestation of the pressure mounted against terrorists and the success achieved in degrading their capacity to launch offensives.”
Tinubu said the purveyors of wanton violence “must have a certain encounter with justice,” according to a statement signed by Ajori Ngelale, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. He said the “cowardly attacks” were a unique incident, and his administration “will not allow the nation to slither into an era of fear, tears, sorrow, and blood.”
“President Tinubu condemns bomb attacks in Borno State and says purveyors of terror will pay a heavy price,” Tinubu said in the statement headed “Government is taking necessary measures to secure citizens.” He sympathised with the attack victims, the relatives of the dead, the government, and the people of Borno State.
The United States and the United Nations denounce strikes. Targeting civilian areas of Gwoza, a local government area of Borno State, the United States Mission in Nigeria denounced the suicide bomb strikes.
Reacting on its official X.com account on Sunday, @USinNigeria, the mission said the violence showed brutal disdain for human life and noted it would be working with Nigeria to bring the offenders of the violence to justice.
The mission said: “The United States condemns in the clearest possible terms the heinous attacks that took place in Gwoza, Borno State, on June 29.
These terrible acts of violence reveal a merciless and heartless disrespect for human life. We hope for a complete recovery for the injured and extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who have passed.
The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria is dedicated to our cooperation with Nigeria as it strives to defeat terrorism and bring the offenders of these horrible acts to justice.
These despicable attacks serve as a sobering reminder of the continuous threat presented by terrorists in the area. In a statement on Sunday, Mohamed Fall, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, also emphasised his outrage and denunciation of the attacks in the strongest terms.
“This attack on innocent people horrifies me; thus, I strongly criticise such crimes. Fall said, standing in solidarity with the Nigerian government as well as the families and communities impacted.
Fall also reminded all those engaged in the war of their responsibilities under international humanitarian law to safeguard people from harm.
Emphasising the UN’s dedication to helping the attack victims, he sent his sympathies to the Borno State Government. “I have contacted the Borno State Government to convey my sympathies and offer any assistance the humanitarian community and UN can provide to help the attack victims,” he said. Northern governments call for group resilience.
As he sympathised with victims, the government, and the people of Borno State over the Gworza bombings, Muhammadu Yahaya, the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, urged collective resistance against terrorism. Yahaya stressed that such acts of terror have no place in a peaceful and modern society, calling the attack shameful.
“These cowardly attacks by bloodthirsty terrorists will never break the spirit of the peace-loving people of Northern Nigeria and our great nation,” he said.
Yahaya acknowledged the relentless efforts of the Tinubu administration in combating terrorism and the pressure being mounted against the criminal elements.
He expressed his firm belief that with sustained efforts and cooperation among security agencies, the menace of terrorism would be effectively curtailed. “We must ensure that our security apparatus is always a step ahead of these terrorists.
Enhanced intelligence and proactive measures are vital in preventing such tragic incidents,” he stated. The governor also commended the Borno State Government for its swift response and measures taken to stabilise the situation and reassure the affected communities.
“Governor Babagana Zulum and his administration have shown exemplary leadership in the face of this tragedy. Their prompt actions have helped in calming the situation and providing immediate relief to the victims,” he said.
Yahaya called for collective resilience and unity among the people of Northern Nigeria, saying “We must stand together, undeterred by these acts of terror. Our unity and resolve will ultimately defeat the forces of darkness and ensure lasting peace and security in our region”.
The NSGF Chairman reassured the victims and their families of the support and solidarity of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, stating that “Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.
The NSGF stands united in solidarity with you and remains committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure peace and stability prevail across the region and the nation in general.
Also, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, expressed concerns over the incidents of terrorism resurfacing in the North-East.
In a statement on Sunday issued via his X handle, Atiku said the suicide attacks in Borno were sad, condemnable and worrisome. He wrote, “It is a sad development that the ugly incidents of terrorism are resurfacing and, indeed, metastasising in the North-East.
“The reported attack by suicide bombers at a wedding reception, funeral procession, and a hospital on Saturday stands condemned. “It is unfortunate that much of the pushback that had been achieved against the Boko Haram terror sect is being cancelled, owing mainly to the government’s lacklustre posture to hold firmly on the frontline.”
Atiku, therefore, asked the Federal Government to ensure that the North-East did not slide back into the hands of terrorists and become the theatre of extreme violence.
He added, “It is thus important to call on the federal authorities to wake up to their responsibility and to make sure that the North-East does not slide back into a theatre of terrorism and extreme violence.
“My condolences go to the families of victims of these attacks, and it is my prayer that God grants a peaceful repose to the souls of the departed.”
